Press



Dec. 4, 1934. F. A. HEIDENFELDER PRESS Filed March 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l f /ff /f l] 1 D 20 3/ z3 Il 33 z/I 34 l g l /2 26 ZZ /8 .i0

INVENTOR f/'r'fa Hanf/waan? WWW ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1934. F. A. HElDENFELDl-:R

PRESS Filed Maron 6,' 1951 2 'sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR MW wvwl ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 4, 1934 uns!) stares 'r relics? PRES S Application March 6, 1931, serial No. 520,545.

11 claims. (o1. 19e-'131) My invention relates to a pressing machine for use in shaping and nishing garments for the laundry as well as for the garment trade.

One object of my invention is to provide a pressing machinepthat is simple in construction and durable, embodies means for creating garment pressing Ypressure between the pressing members, and also embodies safety means for eliminating danger of injury to an operators hands by their being caught between the pressing members during closing of the press.

To attain the above object, my invention contemplates the .provision of a pressing machine embodying relatively movable pressing members consisting of, in this instance, a movable head and a stationary bed, together with means for bringing the pressing members into and out of cooperative pressing relation, Vincluding apower unit that may take any desired form but is show n as a piston and cylinder .construction having suitable operating connections with the head lever on which the pressing .head is mounted. The invention also contemplates the provision of control means for the power 'unit embodying the combination of hand operated control and foot treadle mechanism for operating the usual fluid pressure valves, .means independent of the power unit for resisting the effect of the power unit on the pressing members and embodying two latches or locks adapted to be effective on one of the operating parts of the power unit or on the operating connections Vbetween the power unit and the movable head to resist the elect of the power unit in closing .the press, and two hand control means for rendering such latches or locks ineliective, Vone of thehand control means being .effective both .for rendering a latch or lock controlled thereby ineffective and for causing initiation of movement of parts forthe pressing operation. The latches or locks, as here shown adapted to engage one of the links oi the toggle connection between the power unit and the head carrying lever to prevent movement of the toggle to straightened position unless both latches or locks are moved out of latched position, andan operating handle for each latch or lock, the two ,operating handles being spaced apart on the operators sideof thepressing machine to such an extent that both 'of the operators hands are necessarily simultaneously used to move both latches lor locks out of latched position at the same time so that the power unit may be eiiective to bring about cooperative pressing relation between the pressing members. Also, one of the operating rhandles is effective to cause opening of the fluid pressure inlet valve to initiate operation `of the operating parts to eieot closing of the press, such operating handle being simultaneously effective to release the single latch or lock controlled thereby. The arrangement is such that should one latch or lock only of the two latches or locks be moved to inoperative position, the power unit will be ineffective to -move the pressing members to cooperative pressing relation by reason of the -other latch or lock remaining in latched position in the one instance and in the other instance in addition to vleaving one latch or lock in latched position will not initiate any operation of the power unit. Should one latch be released after the press is in operation, ldownward movement of the pressing head i toward the pressing bed will be stopped prior to the head reaching such position relative to the bed that an operators hand might not be safely withdrawn from between the pressing members such a condition being produced either l' byengagement'oi a latch or lock in one instance and engagement of one latch or lock and'stopping the operation of the power unit in the other instance.

' Various other objects and advantageous feain closed position; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aview of the inlet and exhaust valve operating mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a side view of 'the treadle means for closing the intake and vopening the exhaust valves that control the operation of the power unit. v

'Referring to the drawings,.particular1y Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the type of press shown comprises a frame l having an upwardly extending portion 2 on which a head lever or pressure i* arm 3 is pivotally mounted ,as at 4. A pedestal v5 on the frame 1 supports a lower pressing member or buck 6 covered by the usual padding and the lhead lever or pressure arm 3 'carries an upper pressing member 7 to which heat may be supplied byany well known means and a counter weight "7 for assisting in moving the pressing l1ead'7 upwardly .or in opening Vthe press. The means for moving the head 7 into and `for the pressing operation. vpiston in the other direction under the influence out of engagement with the pressing bed 6 embodies a power unit that takes the form of a cylinder and piston construction including a cylinder 8 having a piston 9 therein, the piston normally being held in its rearwardmost position by a spring 10 surrounding the piston rod 11 and said piston being moved to its operated position against the resistance of the spring 10 by fluid pressure from a line 12 and under the control of a suitable inlet valve 13. An exhaust valve 14 is also provided and the control of these valves will be hereinafter described. Operative connection between the power unit and the head lever 3 is made by two links 15 and 16 that make up the well known toggle mechanism, one of the links being connected to the piston rod 11 as at 17 whereby outward movement of the piston will cause straightening of the toggle and engagement of the pressing members 6 and 7 Movement of the of the spring 10 will cause breaking of the toggle as shown in Fig. 1 and separation of the pressing members.

As hereinbefore stated, the control means for the movement of the piston 9 in the cylinder 8 to bring about cooperative pressing relation between the pressing-members 6 and '7 consists of an inlet valve 13 and exhaust valve 14. Such inlet valve may be of any desired type but is preferably of the slide valve variety embodying a sliding closure (not shown) and a stem 18 by means of which the closure may be reciprocated to selectively open and close the fluid pressure inlet port. Likewise, the exhaust valve 14 may be of any well known type, such as the type embodying a rotating closure or a closure that moves in an arcuate path.

In accordance with my invention, a latch or locking means is provided for preventing movement of the toggle to straightened position to bring about engagement of the pressing members together with an operating or control mechanism therefor. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the latch or locking means includes two independent arms 19 pivotally mounted at one of their ends as at 20 on opposite sides of the cylinder 8 and provided adjacent the outermost ends with recesses or notches spaced from each other. A pin 23 extends through the toggle links 16 and this pin is adapted to be engaged by the generally vertically disposed shoulders of the recesses or notches 21 and 22 of the independent arms 19 when such arms are in their lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 there being an arm 19 on each side of the link 16. The operating means for the arms 19 consists of rods 24, one for each arm, that extend upwardly from the arms 19 adjacent the pivoted ends thereof, then angularlyrearwardly, and then rearwardly substantially parallel to the arms 19, terminating in two handles 25 spaced apart at the operators side of the pressing machine in such manner that when the handles 25 are moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 the arms 19 will be raised to disengage the recesses or notches therein from the pin 23. Due to the fact that the handles 25 are spaced from each other and eachhandle only operates one of the arms 19 it will be apparent that the use of both of the operators hands is necessary to unlock the operating mechanism so that the pressing members may be moved into cooperative pressing relation.

The control means for the inlet and. exhaust valves 13 and 14 embodies the combination of hand operated control and foot treadle mechanism. For example, the depression of one of the two handles 25 to release the lock or latch operated thereby causes opening of the inlet valve 13 and closing of the exhaust valve 1'4 to initiate operation of the press operating mechanism. As shown, a link 26 connects an arm 27, that is pivotally mounted on the Aframe 1, with the operating arm of the exhaust valve 14. The innermost end of the arm 27 bears against a cam surface 28 of an arm 29 also pivotally mounted on the frame 1 and whose inner surface bears against the inlet valve push rod 18. A spring 30 connects the upper end of the arm 29 with a lug on the arm 27 and normally tends to move -the arm 29 away from the inlet valve push rod 18 and against the innermost or adjacent end of the arm 27. The link 26 is adapted to be moved downwardly by rotary movement of one of the arms 19 about its pivotal point 20, a connection between said arm and link 26 being made by an extension 31 of the arm 19V that embodies an eyelet 32 adapted to surround the link 26 and bear against a spring 33 also surrounding said link 26, said spring, in turn, bearing against a collar 34 rigidly mounted on the link. With this construction, it will be seen that downward movement of one of the handles 25, namely, the left one, Fig. 4 to release the lock or latch loperated thereby will cause opening of the inlet valve 13 by moving the arm 30 to the left, Figs. 1 and 2 to bear against the push rod 18 of the inlet valve 13 and move the valve to, in this instance, open position. Operation of the other handle 25 is only effective to operate the latch arm 19 connected thereto and has no eiect on initiating operation of the motor or power unit. It will be understood that the connections are so arranged that closure of the exhaust valve 14 takes place simultaneously with the opening of the inlet valve 13.

Upon complete operation, the innermost end of the arm 27 rests above the cam surface 28 as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the parts will be held in operated position. As shown in Fig. 4, the link 26 is connected to one end of a Walking beam 35 rigidly mounted on a rotating or oscillating valve closure operating rod 36 whereby upward or downward movement of the link 26 will cause opening or closing of the exhaust valve 14 and the opposite end of the walking beam 35 is connected to a foot treadle 37 pivotally mounted on the frame 1 by means of a link 38. Thus, an operating mechanism is provided whereby downward movement of one of the links will result in upward movement of the other and vice versa and the arrangement is such that downward movement of the link 26 opens the inlet valve 13 and closes the exhaust valve 14 while downward movement of the link 38 by depression of the foot treadle 37 will cause a reversal of position of the valves. Thus, a means is provided for initiating movement of the power operating mechanism and rendering such operating mechanism ineffective.

In the operation of the apparatus, both of the handles 25 are first moved downwardly to release the press operating mechanism by raising both the arms 19 that form the latches or locking members, such downward movement of one of the' handles also resulting in initiation of operation of the power unit through the valve control mechanism hereinbefore described whereby uid pressure will be admitted tothe cylinder 8 to move incense the piston 9 forwardly :against the Aresistance loi the `spring .1:0 to straighten 'out the toggle made up fof-the links 15 and'll andzmove vthe pressing members 6 and '7 into cooperative pressing relation. However, with my construction, `should one of the handles 25 'be released before the toggle reaches `full straightened position, the arm 19 operated'therebywill .drop downwardly whereby-the pin 23 will be 'engaged Yby one of the notches or depressions 22 of 1thatcarm so that the .power unit will merely-expendits energy .against `the Aloch provided thereby and will not :be effective to move the toggle k'to a straightened position.

;-latches .cooperating'wi-th a part of saidmechanism :Such .action Ionly occurs when the handle .25 :that operates an .arm if'alone is. released, thatis, the lright handle, as vhere-shown, :release I,of `the other handle namely the left :handle as here Lshown, causing not Vonly engagement "of the lockto prevent straightening Aof the toggle `but.also'stopping 'operation of vthe power unit since the powerunit control is operated by ,movement of that handle 2-5. Thus, I'have provided a means Awhereby both handles 25 must beoperated to not only 'release the operating mechanism :but to cause operation thereof. When it ris wished to fopen the fpress, or in other words, separate the pressing members, the foot treadle 3'? is 'depressed which will -close the inlet valve 13 and open the exhaust valve 14 .in the manner `hereinbefore described-'whereupon the piston 9 will be moved rearwardly under the :action of 'the spring l0 and separation -of the pressing members `will tbe veffected by the action of the spring plus the -eiect of .the counter weight 1|7'. .'Io open the press, itis not 'necessary to :keep the arms .19 .in raised position since the pin 23 will ride past the .recesses or notches22 to nally engage Ythe .recesses or notches .21.

Referring to the Adrawings 4and the preceding description, it will :be seen that I have provided a :pressing .machine embodying a mechanical latchin'g means necessitating :the use fof both of the operators hands during lthe `time-the :pressing members are moving into cooperative pressing relation .and .have so constructed said means that one of the hand controls for releasing the same initiates and controls the operation of the power mechanism for moving the pressing members into cooperative relation and bringing about the final pressing action. The two-hand control latch releasing mechanism is such that both of the control members must be held in depressed position until the pressing members reach such a relative position, in engagement or in approximate engagement, that danger of injury to an operators hand is practically eliminated inasmuch as should one hand only be employed, or should one of the hands be removed from the control mechanism prior to starting operation of the press or after such operation is started and before the pressing members reach initial engagement, the p-ress operating mechanism will be immediately locked against further movement to prevent engagement of the pressing members in the one instance and will not only be locked but the operation of the power unit will be stopped in the other instance. Thus, a safety means is provided that will prevent injury to an operators hands. Various other advantageous features will be readily apparent.

What I claim is:

l. In a pressing machine, relatively movable pressing members, operating mechanism therefor, latch means for rendering said operating mechanism ineffective including individual latches cooperating with a part of said mechamism .andfso arranged when said latches vvare in latched position that the'operating iorce of said :mechanism is expended on said latches and is fineieoti-ve on said pressing members, and spaced :hand control means for releasing lsaid latch?.

.In -.a :pressing machine, Arelatively movable e785 pressing members, operating mechanism there- .latch -:means for .rendering said yoperating mechanism .ineffective .including individual `:and so larranged when :said latches .are in latched posi-tion .that the operating .force of said mechanismisleicpended on saidlatches and is ineffective 'ion saidpressing members, spaced hand con- -itrol means for releasing said latch means, there .fbeing'ionelhand control means for voperating each .latch and :one `of said hand control .means being `feieotive both to operate a latch and to initiate operation of said mechanism, means :for maintaining said 'mechanism Y'effective to continue pressing engagement of said pressing Imembers 0 after such .engagement 'has been effected, and control :means :for said mechanism independent lof 'the latch 'control means for producing separation lof said pressingmembers.

3. In a pressing machine, relatively movable pressing .members `operating mechanism there- '.for,.la.tch means .for rendering said mechanism ineffective A.including individual latches tor Asaid operating mechanism so arranged when said latches are in latched position that .the -operat' ing :force vai ysaid mechanism is expended against said latches yand is ineilective 'on said pressing members, ,said latches being arranged to engage said 'mechanism in a plurality of the ,positions which it assumes between Aseparated and -engaged .conditions `.of :said pressing members, and spaced .ha-nd control means for vreleasing said latches, there being one hand control means for oper- ;ating leach fl-atch .and one of Asaid Acontrol means being arranged both to operate a latch and to H initiate operation of said mechanism.

4. In a pressing machine, relatively movable pressing members, operating mechanism therefor, latch means for rendering said operating mechanism ineffective including individual latches for said operating mechanism so arranged when said latches are in latched position that the operating force of said mechanism is expended against said latches and is ineiective on said pressing members, said latches being arranged to engage said mechanism in a plurality ofthe positions it assumes between separated and engaged conditions of said pressing members, spaced hand control means for releasing said latches, there being a hand control means for each latch and one of said control means being effective both to release a latch and to initiate operation of said mechanism, means for maintaining said operating mechanism eiective to continue pressing engagement of said pressing members after such so arranged when said latches are in latched position that the operating force of said mechanism is expended against said latches and is ineffective on said pressing members, said latches being arranged to engage said toggle in a plurality of the positions which it assumes between separated and engaged conditions of said pressing members, and spaced hand control means for releasing said latches, there being a hand control means for each latch and one of said control means being arranged both to release a latch and to initiate operation of said mechanism.

6. In a pressing machine, relatively movabler pressing members, operating mechanism therefor, individual latch means engagea-ble with said mechanism to latch said pressing members out of engagement, said latch means being engageable with said mechanism in a plurality of the positions it assumes in effecting engagement of said pressing members, and a hand control means for each of said latch means, one of said control means being arranged both to release a latch means and to initiate operation of said mechanism.

'7. In a pressing machine, a pair of relatively movable pressing members, toggle mechanism for effecting engagement and disengagement of said pressing members, pivoted latch means cooperating with said toggle mechanism for normally rendering said mechanism ineffective to produce engagement of said pressing members, and a pair of spaced hand operable means for swinging said latch means to non-latching position, one of said hand operable means being also effective to actuate said mechanism to effect engagement of said pressing members.

8. In a pressing machine, a pair of relatively movable pressing members, mechanism for effecting engagement and disengagement of said pressing members, latch means for normally rendering said mechanism inefective to produce engagement of said pressing members, a pair of spaced hand operable means for releasing said latch means, one of said latch releasing means being also eifective to actuate said mechanism to effect engagement of said pressing members, and other operator-operable means for actuating said mechanism to effect disengagement of said pressing members.

9. A pressing machine comprising a pair of co-y pressing members for moving said member in'y press-closing direction, control means for said motor, abutment means normally preventing movement of said mechanism, release means for said abutment means including spaced manuals requiring two hands of an operator for actuation thereof, and one of said manuals having an operative connection for actuating said motor control means.

il. A pressing machine comprising a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, a motor, control means therefor, a manual for actuating said control means, toggle mechanism operatively connecting said motor and one 'of said pressing members for moving said member in press-closing direction, means normally rendering said toggle mechanism ineffective to produce engagement of said pressing members, a second manual, and means operatively connected with both of said manuals and requiring simultaneous operation thereof for rendering said toggle mechanism eiective to produce engagement of said pressing members.

FRED A. HEIDENFELDER. 

